Right View in Western Society - Noble Eightfold Path 1

Hello to all,

Buddhist practice in the West is considerably different than in Eastern cultures. Rightfully so because the thought processes, environment, social situations, job opportunities (you get the point) couldn't have been considered when Siddartha sat under the Bodhi tree and reached enlightenment.

The Buddha offered the Eightfold Path in his first Dharma talk, continued to teach it for forty-five years. Near the time of his death he gave a final Dharma teaching and presented the Noble Eightfold Path - Right View, Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Diligence, Right Mindlfulness, and Right Concentration. He taught that the Path should be used intelligently in your daily life. The Buddha also said that all the Eight Elements are interconnected, one having a direct effect on all others.

This will be the first of eight articles where I will touch on each one. I will look at it from my own Western perspective. Look at from your own and make a comment.  

The source book I will use is, "The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hahn. In my library of books on Eastern religions and philosophy it is the book I go back to most often. Nhat Hahn is a Vietnamese Buddhist, monk, poet and peacemaker who Dr. King, Jr. nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. His prose is beautiful, relevant and easily absorbed into the curious mind.

As for me, I am no expert, have no degree, and live the same Western life most of you lead. My intent is to initiate discussion and learn from the viewpoints of others.

RIGHT VIEW - The first practice of the Noble Eightfold Path relies heavily on an understanding of the Four Noble Truths of our own suffering, the making of that suffering, the knowledge that suffering can be transformed and the way to achieve that transformation.

The Buddha - "Have faith and confidence that others have transformed their suffering." Look to Boddhisatva, past and present for proof of this. Rev. Hahn and Dalai Lama are well known examples. There are many others in all faiths and walks of life.

Venerable Shariputra - "Distinguish wholesome roots, from unwholesome roots." Deep within our own consciousness are seeds, from our experiences and environment, planted during our lifetimes that can sprout. For example, love or hate can grow.

To me, Existence is like a Mad Gardner scattering all sorts of Seeds of Consciousness around willy-nilly. I have to step around the sproutings of violence, hatred and despair found in negative people, negative media and negative government. I have to nuture the love, compassion and peace found in uplifting friends and relatives, uplifting (not meaning only religious, but humorous and informative) media, and uplifting messages from those in power. I continually struggle to look for the Right View in all things. 

Is this easy? No! Is it possible? Yes. Does Western Society give us the choices? Yes, but it is difficult to winnow out the positive from the negative.  

How do you do it? How do you see it? I look forward to learning from all of you.

I ask this from a Buddhist perspective but the Buddha taught to respect all faiths. Right View is named differently in other religions/teachings, but it has the same importance.

Namaste, Wayne